Lakewood has many rehab centers to treat addiction and help people recover for good with individualized therapy. But what about getting into rehab in the first place? What do you need in preparation before getting into rehab? What types of rehabs exist? What is life like during and after rehab?
These are all examples of common questions people wonder as they begin the Action stage of their addiction treatment. First, you need to get familiar with the rehab process.
When Is Rehab Necessary?
Many people with substance addiction believe they need to first hit rock bottom or experience what they think is severe interference in their work and daily lives before rehab is necessary. This is why they forego treatment, even though they need it. Choosing the right rehab in Lakewood can make all the difference in your recovery.
The fact of the matter is that addictions always have negative effects on one’s life and relationships, whether or not they acknowledge it. The negative effects of addiction are sneaky and can stack up little by little. Loved ones can serve as sounding boards and offer a “bigger picture” view by observing and telling the addicted person about how their substance use has affected them and their relationship.
If you’re asking yourself whether you need help to stay sober, you do. Several addictions require professional help, such as opioids, methamphetamines, alcohol, or any type of severe addiction. While other addictions might not always require rehab to kick, rehab makes the process much easier and better to handle than on one’s own.
There are 11 criteria to judge whether your addiction is mild, moderate, or severe. Meeting any two to three of the following criteria means your addiction is mild:
- Spending a lot of time getting the substance
- Wanting to quit but being unable to
- Experiencing cravings
- Experiencing a lack of control
- Having a loss of interest in normal life
- Having a lack of responsibility
- Having relationship problems
- Gaining a higher tolerance
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
- Going through worsening situations
- Using the substance dangerously
Types of Rehabs
Not all types of rehabs are the same. To that end, let’s go over the main types of rehab and how they help people who want to recover from substance addiction.
Substance abuse treatment only can be desirable for people who are already getting therapy or want to get therapy separately from rehab. It is also desirable for people who became addicted from experimentation rather than being high-risk, such as self-medicating for depression or anxiety. Otherwise, there is rehab with both substance abuse treatment and mental health care. Some rehab centers offer additional specialties such as dual diagnoses and gender-specific treatment.
Methadone therapy is part of managing withdrawal symptoms and eliminating cravings from opioids. It is usually part of a rehab program rather than a standalone therapy. Some people choose to stay on methadone in the long term, which requires going to a methadone clinic to take their dose under supervision. Here is more information about methadone maintenance treatment: https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/medications-counseling-related-conditions/methadone
For people who need detox services for any substance, they can choose residential detox services, hospital residential detox, or outpatient detox. Alternately, some people go through residential or hospital residential detox and transfer to outpatient detox.
Residential care, intensive outpatient care, and outpatient treatment are other possible options. Residential care can be short-term with a 12-step program, or long-term with 24-hour care ranging from six to 12 months. It includes physical activities and educational courses, such as nutrition. Outpatient treatment means attending the same therapy sessions throughout the week while living at home.
Some people have physical health issues that need monitoring in a hospital setting. For them, partial hospitalization or hospital residential treatment is best.
Entering Rehab
When you first go into rehab, you will have an intake interview. You will answer questions about your lifestyle, relationships, and substance use. They can be embarrassing, but it is important to answer them honestly so the staff can create a custom program for you.
Life During Rehab
Once you complete the initial assessment, you will go through the detox process. This is the hardest part of rehab. You might be prescribed medication to manage withdrawal symptoms or treat mental health issues.
You will also attend therapy sessions. Depending on your program, you could have group therapy, individual therapy, family counseling, or a combination of either. Each is designed to offer specific benefits and improve rehab outcomes.
Group therapy involves each person talking about themselves and their experiences, becoming familiar with and supporting each other, and possibly even becoming friends. It is based on a 12-step program.
The two main types of individual therapies are behavioral because a large part of substance addiction is about negative behaviors and coping mechanisms. Those therapies are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing.
Family counseling includes family and friends, who get to talk about their experiences with you and learn about how they may have contributed to or enabled your addiction. They also get to learn about the dynamics of addiction and how to support you after you leave rehab. This type of therapy sets the basis for an outside support network to greatly improve rehab outcomes.
The last part of rehab involves aftercare planning, also known as continuing care. You and your counselor will evaluate your progress up until then and create a plan that includes social and medical support services. These services can be a sober living home, follow-up therapy and counseling, or medical evaluations.
Sticking with your aftercare plan is just as important as therapy sessions for reducing the risk of addiction relapse. On the other hand, it is important to remember that relapse does not mean failure – it just means your addiction treatment needs to be reinstated, changed, or replaced with an alternative. You can read about the effectiveness of drug addiction treatment .
Why Choose Rehab in Lakewood?
Some people with substance addiction already live in Lakewood and prefer to choose a local rehab center for convenient treatment, especially if they are outpatients. Others know a lot of negative people in their area who will discourage their recovery. They may also want to be away from the places that remind them of their addiction while they attend rehab. Alternately, they may simply choose a rehab in Lakewood because it is a peaceful, friendly, and beautiful suburb.